Pyroxylin compound



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN GOETTER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ARLINGTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND ARLINGTON, NEW

JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,144, dated January 1 1, 1898. Application filed July 22,1896. Serial No. 600,110. (No specimens.)

To ct'ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN Gonrrnn, Ph. 1)., a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Pyroxylin Compound to be Employed in the Arts and Trades, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to an artificial solid substance which is used for the same purposes as .celluloid, pyralin, and similar compositions. The commercially-successful compositions of this kind consist, essentially, of nitrocellulose and camphor. The latter makes these compositions very expensive, and it has been the aim of inventors to discover compositions free of camphor which answer the same purposes.

It is the special object of my invention to produce a very cheap composition of this kind, and I have succeeded in producing a material in which the use of camphor is pref erably entirely dispensed with.

My new composition, further, is easier worked into articles, and the manufactured goods are superior in appearance and elasticity to those of similar materials.

My novel material is essentially composed of nitrated cellulose andacetate ofa iyl.

In manufacturing the solid materia I substantially proceed as follows: The nitrated cellulose is treated with an auxiliary solvent, preferably wood-alcohol or acetone or similar agents and acetate of amyl, simultaneously or in succession. After thus compounding the mass the wood-alcohol is mostly removed in a similar way as is usually employed in the manufacture of celluloid. For obtaining a first-class product it is important that the nitrocellulose pulp is soft and fine. The mass so compounded is now subjected to rollers and manipulated by means of heat and pressure and seasoned in the usual manner. The proportions in which the single components are employed may be varied.

For most purposes I prefer to use the follow ing formula: twelve and one-eighth parts, by weight, of nitrocellulose, ten parts, by weight, of wood-alcohol, and three and one-half parts, by weight, of acetateof amyl.

For certain articles of manufacture some camphor maybe mixed in. In such instances I prefer to use a composition of the following formula: twenty-four and one-fourth parts, by Weight, of nitrocellulose, two parts, by Weight, of camphor, six parts, by Weight, of acetate of amyl, and fifteen parts, by weight,

of wood-alcoh 01. The proportions of this composition may also be varied.

If the pulp of the nitrocellulose is soft and very fine, then the quantity of the wood-alcohol'is reduced in proportion to the fineness and softness of the same. The use of acetate of amyl in the manufacture of such materials not only cheapens the final product, (the presout price of acetate of amyl is about onefourth of the price of camphor,) but it also greatly facilitates the process of making them, because acetate of amyl is a solvent of nitrocellulose, and therefore a more, transparent, 7o elastic, and beautiful product is obtained.

The solid finished material has naturally a slightly-yellowish tint of color. For certain articles the same may be colored in the usual manner. For less expensive articles so-called 7 5 pigments may be incorporated in order to increase the weight and to reduce the cost. Such pigments are, for instance, oxid of zinc, carbonate of magnesium, and simllar sub stances. They are used either singly or mixtures thereof.

My novel invention further presents marked advantages over similar materials. YVhen entirely free of camphor, then the obnoxious smell of camphor is certainly not present, while the smell of acetate of amyl is not more perceivable after the seasoning of the mass. If ignited, it does not give off any bad odors and it does not smoke. The manufactured articles-are very durable and of great elasticity, an advantage which is, for instance, very valuable in combs manufactured therefrom. It further attains a high polish very easily.

I am aware of the fact that acetate of amyl 5 was known long ago as a solvent for nitrated cellulose and that, for instance, celluloid'varnish is prepared with this solvent; butIclaim that'l have first discovered the specific compound described and the proportions speci- 10o fied for obtaining a solid commercial product. Having now described my invention, what 

